What's your timeline?

There’s a lot to think about and do in preparation for your return, especially if it’s been a while since you last called New Zealand ‘home’. A good place to start is to have a realistic (and as much as possible, flexible) timeline. When would you like to move – in three months, six months, one year or more? And what do you need to get ready?

Check your passport

Once you’ve established a timeframe for action, it’s important to check if your passport is up to date. If you're a NZ citizen, is your NZ passport up to date? If it has less than six months left before it expires, make sure you renew it now. And if you’re a NZ permanent resident, you’ll also need to get the resident visa transferred to the new passport as soon as possible. Also, who else is travelling with you? If you’re travelling with a partner and/or children, make sure they have valid passports too. 

Travelling with any pets?

When it comes to importing pets from overseas, New Zealand has strict rules. Click here for up-to-date information on the requirements for travelling with your pets. We also recommend getting help from a professional pet exporter, who can help you arrange documents, tests, flights and permits.

Where will you be living?

Another important choice to make is where you will be living – temporarily or indefinitely. Many factors can go into this decision, including job prospects, closeness to family and friends, affordability, and access to a particular lifestyle. To help you decide, write down a list of must-haves, nice-to-haves, and deal-breakers. For some ballpark figures to better understand your budget and opportunities, click here to read our article ‘Cost of living: How do the UK and New Zealand compare?’.

Consider job opportunities

To facilitate job hunting in New Zealand, make sure you know what job positions are on offer and where: click here to read our comprehensive guide ‘Returning Kiwi looking for a job in NZ?’. If you or your partner have gained a professional qualification overseas, you may need to have that recognised in New Zealand.

Moving your stuff: sell or send?

The decision is entirely up to you. Some people prefer to travel as light as possible, while others don’t want to leave behind many of the things they’ve accumulated over time. That’s one of the reasons why international moves can be emotional and complicated affairs, so asking for help can be a good idea. Our partners at Mobile Relocation specialise in helping people get settled in New Zealand, and can make the experience a positive one.

Pack your finances

You may want to sort out your finances in the UK while you’re still in the country, before you make the journey across the world. Think about your bills, recurring payments, contracts and subscriptions, insurance and bank accounts. If you don’t have a NZ bank account yet (or still), you may be able to open one online before you arrive – another item ticked off the list. You may not be able to use it, however, until you provide evidence of your identification and address.

What about your UK Pension?

If you’re moving back to New Zealand from the UK for good, transferring your UK Pension closer to you may be worth considering. While we can’t provide advice on your UK Pension transfer until you land on Kiwi shores, once you're here, you can request your free report on the benefits, risks, associated fees and costs, and ROPS fund recommendations based on your risk profile and investment goals. To get underway, click the link appropriate you:

Already arrived back in New Zealand - Click here.
Getting ready to head back to New Zealand from the UK - Click here.

At Pension Transfers, we have over 20 years’ experience in helping returning Kiwis and UK expats understand what UK pension transfers to NZ entail – the benefits, the risks and what to be aware of.

Disclaimer: Please note that the content provided in this article is intended as an overview and as general information only. While care is taken to ensure accuracy and reliability, the information provided is subject to continuous change and may not reflect current developments or address your situation. Before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article, please use your discretion and seek independent guidance.